Clavicle splint



Oct. 4, 1932. J. J. ETTINGER CLAVICLE SPLINT Filed Sept. 19. 1931 Ettinigef IN VENTOR fa; w. 2%

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOE J. nrrmenn, or WARSAW, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ZIMMER ivrAnnrncrunme COMPANY, or WARSAW, INDIANA CLAVICLE SPLINT Application filed September 19, 1931. Serial No. 563,846.

The invention relates to surgical splints designed primarily for use in the reduction of fractures of the clavicle.

Heretofore clavicle splints of various types have been used which are applied upon 'the back of the patient with pad-carrying straps passed over the shoulders and under thearms. The straps when drawn tight are irritating to theaxillae and the efiective bearring surface of the pads is substantially limited to the width of the straps. Since the purpose of the splint is to draw the injured shoulder back into proper position to secure alinement of the separated or fractured seg-' 1 ments of the clavicle, it is an advantage to have alarge surface in engagement with the forward side of the shoulder so that the pressure exerted thereon, shall be uniformly distributed over said shoulder and secure the" proper rearward movement thereof. It is also a distinct advantage if this bearing surface shall conform to the contour of the forward sideof the,shoulder,and also that the shoulder engaging parts shall push the shoul- ,ders rearwardly rather than pull them rearwardly as in prior devices.

The object of myinvention is to provide a novel splint having the advantages set forth above, and another object is to provide a splint having a large bearing surface engage able on the forward side of the shoulders and which when applied pushes the shoulders rearwardly.

The invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing j I Figure 1 is an elevational view of a splint embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross- 7 section on line 2-2'0f Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a crosssection on line 33 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 a cross-section on line 4-4: of Fig. 1. Referring to the illustrative embodiment of the invention 1, 2 represent two plates, preferably pressed out of aluminum, one for the right shoulder and the other for the left 7 shoulder. Thebars 3, 4 are pivoted at 5, 6 respectively to the plates 1, 2 and a slot 7 is formed in each plate through which a bolt 8 extends, the bolts also being extended through apertures formed in the bars respectively' and having the'wing nuts 9 thereonby which to clamp the bars to the plates in any rotated position of the plates on their pivots.

The bars 3, 4 are longitudinally slotted and overlap and the bolts 10, having the wing nuts 11- thereon, are extended through the slots. By longitudinally adjusting the bars on each other the distance between the plates may be adjusted to accommodate the splint to various breadths of shoulders of patients. Since the plates are also capable of limited rotation on their pivots theymay be adjusted to fit the particular contour of the forward sides of the patients shoulders. The bars are offset relatively to the plates sothat they will not bear against the chest of the patient.

Suitable pads 12 are secured to the back of the plates, and to'the lower part of the plates are secured the buckles 13 which, lie adjacent the slots 14 formed in the plates and the pads. The straps '15, 16are adapted to be engaged by the buckles andextend through the slots 14:, and they are also adapted to extend aroundthe opposite sides and onto the back of the patient where they are connected by the buckle 17 These straps being connected together and to the plates 1, 2 by the buckles 17, 13 are therefore adjustable so that the proper draught may be appliedztothe lower part of the plates to firmly engage them on the shoulders or push them rearwardly as desired. h

The straps 18,- 19 are attached to the straps 15, 16 respectively and they are adapted to be engaged by the buckles 18 that are secured to the top portion of the plates respectively. The straps 18, 19 cross each other on the patients back and when tightened draw the up} 90 per portion of the plates firmly against the shoulders. .The continued tightening of all the straps causes the plates to push the shoulders rearwardly the desired amount the in j ured shoulder especially in order to aline the fractured segments ofthe clavicle.

Each plate 1, 2 is of peculiar form. In gen eral outline it is somewhat elliptical, the upper portion being widest and flared laterally at its inner side. In its longitudinal axis the 1 5 -The relatively large bearingsur-face iof the 1 plates enables-them .to, produce a positive V push on theshoulders without discomfort to. 1 the patient,and the draft IHBIIIZlJQIPS-llOljCl the. c I 5 lvhatlclaim sz 1 upper portion 21 of each plate is convex in all directions and merges into a lateral concavity 22 that extends'toiv ard the lower end of the plate. The portion 23 of the plate, eX- tending along its inner edge, in which the slot 7 is formed, is. convex both longitudinally and transversely. The various curyatures are 1ilustrated'in the cross-section figures the drawing.

When the splines installed an a patient the convex and concave portions of thepadded plates 1, 2 snugly fit the curvatures of the front side of the shoulders and thelower:

outer portions extend in frontof the arms below the scapulze so thatthey will .notcreep f upwardly when the straps -18, '.1 9' are tights ed, and since theshoulder straps cross at. g the back their draught'islrearward and in- V I- Ward on the plates.

' Thesplintisvery rapidly applied, the ad connected directlytofthe upper ends of the. members respectively, to pass over the shoulders, the several draft members cooperating ,tOzCZLllSG 'theanembers tolpushthe shoulders justments; being readily accomplished, .and I there is no irritating memberon the splint.

plates firmly in position.

7 1. A clavicle splint coni prising twoinemi bers shaped to engageon the front sideof the humanshoulders respectively, means to'space adapted to be drawn about the rear of 'l3l'l8 trunk of the human body, andshouldergem gaging draft members secured tothe lateral draft members adj acentrthe connection ofthe latter to' the splint members, and ad ustably 1 reanwardlyi .1 2. AiQlfllZlClt-Z splint comprising two: rigid members shaped to engagethefront'side of the human shoulders respectively, "an exten sible-meinb erij pivotally connected at "its op} p'osite ends to the rigid members, laterally nected. together at thehuman back, and straps}; securedto' the. laterally projecting the members respectivl-y,"the several-straps cooperating to cause the rigid members to straps respectively adjacent their point of connection to the rigid members'andadapted ably connected directly to, the upper ends of and longitudinally .at its outer portion and havinga convex portion at the inner side of the concave, portion, said convex portion exn in d wn rdly. nt ly o t lower outer portion'of-the plate; and means to secure said plate to the body with the upper .0011 cave portion pressing rearwardly agalnst the clavlcle and the lower convex .por-

ti on in front ofthe upper arm.

4. In a claviclesplint including a substantially rigid padded platezfor engaging the front side "of the "human shoulder, said plate being substantially :reniform in outline and having its upper-endportion on the-face confronting the shouldericoncave transversely and longitudinallyatits outer portion and having aconvexportion at the inner side'of thecOncave portion, said convexportion extending .downward yifind outwardly to the lower outer f portion of the-5. mm, a second similar plate for the opposite shoulder, means to secure the .plates rigidly together in ad justed spaced- ,and angular relation,;and means tosecure-saidjplates to the body with the upper concave portions pressing. against the the ower 'convex portions in front of theupper arms: w

5. A clavicle splint including apair ofsub- -clavicles and -stantially rigid Tmembers adapted to engage the members transversely, lateralgdraft mem bers adjustably, connecteddirectly to the. low- I er ends of the members and to each other and the body in front of the shoulders and toproject at their lower ends lower thanthe adapted to liein spaced relation to the axillae,

and crossed shoulder straps each having one- .end connectedto the back strap in spacedrelation -to .an adjacent plate. to lie behind the axillaeTand having its other end connected to r the toplofthe' other plate. v

and having its ends thereby secured adjustablyto the respective plates, otherbuck-les secured'to the upper ends "of the-respective plates, a pairof shoulderstrapsarranged in cross relation each having one end secured to the first strap adjacent arespective plate and c havingfits other end secured to thelast men to, be drawn over the shoulders a'nd'adjusttioned buckle ofthe other plate, and rigid l In a clavicleosplinua pair of rigid and padded plates each shapedQto conform throughout -to the front part of the shoulder region of a humanbody and each having a jjvertically disposed buckle secured to itslow- V I fer part, a ba'ckstrap connectingsaid buckles o projecting straps iadjusta bly connected di-Q .rectl'y. to thelower ends ,of'the members, re-

sp'ectivel-y and adapted to be adjust-ably conconnecting means having its ends secured to the central portions of the-respective plates.

J '7.' Ina clavicle splint, apa-ir ofrigid and padded 1 plates each; shaped to, conform a a he t a he' t et e h l region of a human body and each havinga vertically disposed buckle secured to its lower part, a back strap connecting said buckles and having its ends thereby secured adjustably to the respective plates, other buckles secured to the upper ends of the respective plates, a pair of shoulder straps arranged in cross relation each having one end secured to the first strap adjacent a respective plate and having its other end secured to the last mentioned buckle of the other plate, a pair of rigid cross bars slidable longitudinally of each other, means to secure said cross bars in slidably adjusted position, an ofiset foot on each cross bar having pivotal connections with the central portion of a respective plate, and means to secure the plates to the feet in pivotally adjusted positions.

In witness whereof I hereto subscribe my name.

JOE J. ETTINGER. 

